- A note from Alternativ’s Executive Director -
*Previously Published: April 2nd 2019
For many of our communities, lockdowns around the world have caused many increased hardships and fueled underlying social issues. We've seen directly and heard stories of food shortages, economic despair, increased domestic violence, and more and our hearts are saddened.
We've also facing unprecedented times of civil unrest at home and want to make sure you know that Alternativ stands with our brothers and sisters of color, both at home and abroad, as we seek to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly.
Despite all of this, during these difficult times, we've also seen inspiring accounts of determination and rapid program adjustments to meet immediate community needs in addressing the fallout from COVID-19.
To share a few...
In the Democratic Republic Of Congo Alternativ partners Totonga Bomoi and One Thread - Reeds of Hope, in addition to requiring to close their respective training/support centers, border closures imposed by country lock down policies caused costs of basic food goods (like flour, salt, rice etc) to increase by anywhere from 30 - 900%. While the organizations quickly changed gears to address short term food needs, women from one center were able to leave with their OWN money that they had been saving as part of requirement of joining the hybrid One Thread / Alternativ program. Thus, they were able to experience, first-hand, the importance of saving for unplanned emergencies, a concept many had learned for the first time in their Alternativ Training! When emergency struck they were immediately in a better position than many of their peers who had not had this education.
Alternativ's Strategic Partnership and Commitment to Uganda (read more) has also seen many setbacks due to concerns in health and sanitation and otherwise. Following years of success after incorporating Alternativ training into The Remnant Generation’s “School of Purpose,” originally serving as a health/social center for young mothers in very difficult situations, 2020 was going to be the year where business propelled forward. Through vocational training, combined with Alternativ programs, young women were getting jobs, starting businesses, and improving their own and other lives in their communities, directly after graduating. Alternativ and the Remnant Generation were awarded a grant to expand the center’s business services and had invested to expand physical space (to offer shared office, storage, product display and other community areas) purchase computers, printers, and other materials central to business operations, as well as to hire additional staff to support the expansion. We had also planned to travel to Uganda in the fall to run another community training and further equip Remnant staff to continue their great work through our Train The Trainers program.
The pandemic has put this all of this on pause. The products mentioned above have yet to be delivered, stuck in limbo due to essential vs. nonessential working orders. The center had to close and many women were forced to return to where they originally sought refuge from. Funding rapidly had to be adjusted to maintain Remnant's vital staff. Recent graduates were laid off from their new jobs. Financial and other burdens have caused increased reports of gender based violence and, in some cases, the necessity of exchanging sexual acts for needed resources. This has obviously attributed to the general cloud of uncertainty and fear for the future. However, these challenging times also have presented opportunities for business. Two girls used what they had learned in training to innovate and after seeing market opportunity due to movement restrictions, began developing and selling snacks in their immediate community, while 5 girls have formed a small collective and have made, sold, and donated reusable masks.
Although our hearts are heavy due to the difficulties and delays caused by ongoing concerns, Alternativ remains committed to our original goals to develop the Business Incubator and further our impact in Uganda. As funding has and will very likely continue to be adjusted due to short term emergency concerns and developments related to COVID, please do consider making a donation to help refuel Alternativ's strategic commitment to business development in Uganda.
“We note with concern that if girls don’t get an income stimulus and business coaching, many will struggle to revive/start their businesses. We are stretching the incubation program to provide opportunity for girls to work on business solutions together. Initially, only 5 girls were going to receive startup capital. We would like to stretch this opportunity to benefit more girls. ”
In Pakistan, even before any current developments, 65% of the country lived on less than $1 a day; only 20% of women were involved in the labor force, 20 million children were not in school and young people were threatened by early marriage, extremism, and more more. Alternativ had partnered with the Moqah Foundation to change this. 2019 saw more than 60 emerging entrepreneurs trained in the Alternativ Business Essentials Course, with another 70 plus on the books for training this year. The goal was to slowly organize microfunding and grants to support local bazaars and independent vendors that had blossomed in communities that had received training, all while slowly displaying the economic and social benefits of ensuring women are provided opportunity to work and education. This has come to halt as have a majority of general economic activities with people finding themselves with little or nothing to eat due to the lack of work and income. As such, local leaders have worked to provide food rations to families most impacted and with your support on Facebook, Alternativ was able to contribute an additional $750 for food rations. THANK YOU!
You can help us reach more families by sending additional funding for supplies and food items.
It's important to note that communities all over the world, in countries where Alternativ training is implemented or where we hope to train, have been impacted in some way by current concerns. As evident by the above and current developments at home in the United States, many underlying community issues or social issues have been further inflamed by anxiety and uncertainty caused by the pandemic and accompanying policies, laws, and events.
Together, we will push through these uncertain times. Local business and community leaders and all emerging entrepreneurs Alternativ and our partners serve all over the world will lead the way. Small business, community empowerment, education, and unity (the kind that inspires individuals to rise up together) will be more important than ever.
Business Is Better.
Lauren Hallaron DeSutter
Executive Director, Alternativ Global Entrepreneurs